By an overwhelming 55 - 22 percent, Virginians support a new law requiring abortion clinics to
be regulated like hospitals, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

Gov. Bob McDonnell, who backed the legislation, remains highly popular with a 61 - 21
percent job approval rating, matching New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's 62 - 22 percent job
approval as the best in states surveyed by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University.

There is virtually no gender gap as women support tougher regulation of abortion clinics
54 - 21 percent, while men back the measure 57 - 24 percent. Support is 62 - 12 percent among
Republicans, 57 - 21 percent among independent voters and 47 - 34 percent among Democrats.

State health regulators are to vote Thursday on regulations implementing tougher abortion
clinic standards that are popular even though by 50 - 41 percent Virginians say abortion should
be legal in all or most cases. The Virginia Legislature, which gets a 48 - 34 percent approval
rating, passed the law that abortion rights groups say is a back-door attempt to stop abortions in
the state because most of the existing clinics cannot meet the structural requirements of the new
law.

But 50 percent of registered voters see the new law as a way to safeguard women's
health, while 33 percent see the law as unnecessary and an effort to put abortion clinics out of
business. There is only a small gender gap on this question.

"There is strong support for the new abortion law among men and women. Opponents
apparently have been unable to convince the electorate that this is an unwarranted back-door way
to stop abortions," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling
Institute. "Even Democrats, by a plurality, support the measure."

"Gov. Bob McDonnell's approval numbers, up from 55 - 26 percent in a June 29
Quinnipiac University survey, are among the best in the country," said Brown.

"Not only is he personally popular, but so too is his budget. Virtually every other
governor in the country must be envious about Bob McDonnell's numbers."

Virginians say 56 - 14 percent they like McDonnell personally and by 52 - 26 percent say
they like most of his policies. By 53 - 29 percent they approve of his handling of the state
budget, and say 55 - 31 percent that the budget is fair to people like them.

Asked about control of the State Legislature that will be determined by this November's
elections, 25 percent would like both houses controlled by Democrats; 25 percent want the
Republicans in control and 43 percent say they want the current split control to continue.

Virginia voters are generally happy with their political leaders. Giving all their statewide
elected political figures positive job approval ratings:

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner is at 64 - 22 percent, the highest approval of any statewide
official;

U.S. Sen. Jim Webb gets 51 - 30 percent;

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling has a 39 - 15 percent approval;

Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli scores 47 - 29 percent.

From September 7 - 12, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,368 registered voters with a
margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. Live interviewers call land lines and cell phones.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Virginia
and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

8. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bob McDonnell is handling his job as Governor?

21. Currently, Republicans control the Virginia House and Democrats control the Virginia Senate. After the 2012 election would you prefer that the Democrats control both houses
of the legislature, the Republicans control both houses of the legislature, or would you prefer that control is split as it is today?

27. The new rules are the product of a new law in Virginia that reclassified abortion clinics as hospital facilities. According to the new regulations, all abortion clinics and physician offices providing abortions would have to meet specific building and safety requirements that until now, have only been required of hospitals; such as 250-square-foot
operating rooms and specific ventilation systems. Do you approve or disapprove of this change that would require the state's abortion clinics to be regulated like hospitals or don't you know?

28. Supporters of this proposed change say it is needed to safeguard the health of women who get abortions; Opponents say the changes are mainly expensive structural changes and
are just an effort to force many clinics who cannot afford them out of business. Which comes closer to your view:
These changes are necessary to improve women's health, OR These changes are not necessary and are designed to put abortion clinics out of business.